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A large-scale INTERPOL-led operation across West Africa has resulted in 62 arrests and the recovery of a wide range of illegal items, marking a significant step in regional efforts to combat organized crime and terrorism.
The operation, known as Operation Screen West Africa 2025, brought together security agencies from 12 countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, and Liberia.
Conducted between July and October, the coordinated security effort involved 1.7 million real-time border checks, allowing authorities to identify suspects and illegal shipments moving across borders.
According to INTERPOL, the arrests included nine individuals suspected of terrorism, most of whom are believed to have links to Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups operating in the region. In addition to the counter-terrorism breakthroughs, the operation also led to the rescue of 21 victims of human trafficking in Ghana, highlighting ongoing concerns about exploitation networks operating through West African transit routes.
Security forces also seized a range of prohibited and counterfeit items, including weapons, explosives, drugs, counterfeit medicines, and 136 stolen vehicles. Authorities say the discoveries underscore the complexity and interconnection of criminal economies across borders, from arms trafficking to drug distribution and vehicle smuggling.
Investigations further uncovered cases of maritime fraud, adding another layer to the operation’s findings and prompting calls for deeper scrutiny of criminal activities within regional ports and shipping routes.
The initiative received financial support from Germany, Denmark, and the United States, reinforcing international partnerships aimed at boosting border security and strengthening law enforcement coordination across West Africa.
INTERPOL officials say the results of Operation Screen West Africa 2025 demonstrate the importance of intelligence-sharing and joint action in addressing the evolving threats posed by transnational criminal networks
